Last weekend, I had the honor of being one of eight invited to participate in the first Level 3 certification for XPT. The group of individuals who attended had varied backgrounds and locations, but all have a desire to improve others’ lives and improve their craft. We met in Malibu, California for two days of intensive training where we were tasked with leading each other through breath work, presenting on the benefits of breath and heat & ice, and coaching each other through XPT pool training. Throughout the process, we were evaluated by XPT’s lead instructors. The evaluations were tough but fair and I’m grateful for the process.
I knew going in that I had to work on my presentation skills. I have so much information that has helped me through the years and I want to share it all, but through the feedback process, I found out that it is best to simplify the information to ensure my audience has at least one solid takeaway. I also learned a lot from watching everyone else present. I was in the presence of some masterful coaches that have been coaching a lot longer than I have. Watching them hold an audience and give the right cues at the right time was a great learning experience. I’m looking forward to learning more from this group.
We also had a lot of fun hanging out together. I knew a lot of the other coaches before the certification, but I was able to make some new friends and get closer to the ones I knew before. There is something about the people that gravitate towards XPT. Since my first XPT experience two years ago, I knew I found my tribe. Everyone is open to learning new things and, while we all want to be the best and perform at the highest level, egos are left at the door. Paraphrasing Gabby Reece, what if you didn’t have to compete with everyone but you could all lift each other up? Looking at relationships and life through this lens is playing the long game. When you find a group of people that make each other better, the impact you can have on the broader community/world is even greater. I believe the universe brought us all together for a reason and I’m excited to see how it all unfolds.
I have a similar group here in Memphis and it’s exciting seeing what is happening in this city. Memphis has never been known as a healthy place, but I believe that is starting to change. The health and fitness community continues to grow and our city officials are doing a great job supporting mental and physical well-being. This week, I challenge you to focus on who you are surrounding yourself with. Are they people that build you up or tear you down? If you are hanging out with people who are constantly bringing you down, maybe it’s time to let them go. When you find your tribe, it’ll bring out your best and help you do the same for others. It also makes this journey a lot more fun!
It’s time for me to sign off so let’s go ahead and jump into this week’s links.